Fifth-wheel.



P. E. WILGOX.

FIFTH WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 15, 1910.

iii I CZW'C i? M w vwe/oaao COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNTTE STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

FRANK E. WILCOX, 0F MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOHERBERT C. BROWN, OF MECHANICSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

oizyws.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 15, 1910. Serial No. 592,429.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be itknown that I, FRANK E. W1Loox, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mechanicsburg, in the county of Cumberland and State ofPennsylvania, have in-.

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-WVheels, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to fifth wheels for vehicles, and one of theprincipal objects of the invention is to improve the construction of thelower circle or segment of the fifth wheel for the purpose ofsimplifying the method of producing the fifth wheel and at the same timeto provide integral offset clips for clamping the fifth wheel member tothe axle of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fifth wheel memberhaving ofi set clips which will provide a long bearing upon the axle andhence give greater security and firmness to the attachment of the fifthwheel member to said axle.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fifth wheel member made inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view takenon the line m x of Fig. 1, and showing the nuts removed from the stem ofthe clips.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 designates the lower member orsegment of a fifth wheel and 2 are the portions of the clips which areoffset from the plane of the member 1 and provided with integral stems 3which are preferably screw threaded to receive nuts 4 for clamping themember to the axle of the vehicle. The under surface of the portion 2may be curved, as at 5 to fit the rounded upper surface of the axle.However, this form may be modified to suit axles of different contoursand threaded stems 3 may be separated more or less, depending upon thewidth of the axle.

The steps necessary in the production of the fifth wheel member may bebriefly referred to as follows: The steel bar is originally a plainstraight bar of rectangular cross section. This bar is rolled in thecenter to reduce the size of the bar at. that point. l/Vithoutre-heating the bar, one end is formed by dies into a blank for the clipswith the stems projecting parallel with the bar. The opposite end of thebar is then formed into a blank and the clips are parallel with the bar.The bar is then forged into a half round or flat shape and the stems arethen screw-threaded and bent at right angles after which the member isfinished.

Several advantages are gained by offsetting the clips from the plane ofthe circle or member 1 and they may be briefly referred to as follows:The steps necessary in the process of manufacturing this portion of afifth wheel are very much simplified and facilitated, requiring lesshandling and dispensing with one or more of the steps necessary toproduce the device. Furthermore an improved structure is provided owingto the fact that the clips provide a long bearing on the axle extendingfrom a to I), Fig. 2, instead of extending immediately downward from themember 1. The advantage of a long bearing for the clips resides in thefact that greater stability and firmness are given to the connectionbetween the member and the axle.

It will be obvious that the clips may be offset either upon the outer orinner side of the member 1 without affecting the spirit or scope of myinvention as included in the claim.

I claim:

A forged fifth wheel member made from a straight steel bar andcomprising when finished, a curved body portion having integral clipsextending inwardly upon opposite sides of said body portion, said clipshaving curved under surfaces to bear upon the under surface of .theaxle, said clips having downwardly extending integral threaded stems,said stems being spaced apart, and nuts fitted to the threaded ends ofsaid stems for holding the member firmly connected to the axle.

Patented. Dec. 26, 1911.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. WILCOX.

Witnesses:

JAS. L. YOUNG, M. E. A vDnRsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

